Residents of Ifon and Ilobu towns in Osun State fled their homes on Monday due to reported violent clashes involving hoodlums from the two communities.
The cause of the present hostility remains unclear, but security sources, speaking anonymously to reporters, revealed that militias from the two communities clashed in villages on the border of Osun and Oyo States before the conflict spread to the towns.
Over the years, Ilobu and Ifon have been embroiled in bloody clashes related to boundary issues. In October 2023, the state government imposed a 24-hour curfew on the communities following clashes that resulted in loss of lives and property destruction. The curfew was lifted last December after a return of relative peace to the area.
Regarding the latest incident, the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Leke Ogunsola, informed journalists that hoodlums from Ifon attacked Ilobu farmers in Ologele and Aganna villages, resulting in the death of a farmer and injuries to others. However, Jide Akinyooye, the Secretary of Ifon Progressive Union Board of Trustees, alleged that hoodlums from Ilobu attacked Ifon indigenes, causing injuries.
Oladotun, a resident of Ilobu who sought refuge in Osogbo, revealed during an interview with newsmen that business outlets were hastily shut down when news of the clashes in the villages reached the two towns.
He said, “I have to leave with my family. We are currently in a church in Osogbo where we will pass the night. Most people around my house in Ilobu have fled their homes too for fear of attack. The fight started in villages at the Osun boundary with Oyo State.
“A village called Wale was razed down. There were also clashes around Idiroko and Iranin villages. We learnt two persons were killed too. But many people fled their homes in both Ilobu and Ifon to avoid being caught in the crossfire.”
The Public Relations Officer of the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, said personnel had been deployed to the area to prevent escalation.
She said, “We have deployed men to the communities. We are already working on the issues. I will brief you on further development.”
Speaking in a similar vein, the spokesperson for the Osun Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kehinde Adeleke, also said the command had deployed its armed squad to the area, said there were bloody clashes.
She could not, however, confirm if any casualty had been recorded.
